Curr Med Res Opin. 2001 ; 17 Suppl 1(): s87-93.

Migraine: preventive treatment.

Silberstein SD.

Jefferson Headache Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA. stephen.silberstein@mail.tju.edu

Preventive treatment is designed to decrease headache frequency. It should be used if headaches are too frequent, disabling, or associated with worrisome neurological features or if acute treatment is overused or ineffective. The chosen drug should be given an adequate trial in the absence of interfering medications. Choose a drug based on its efficacy, adverse event profile, and the presence of coexistent conditions.